THE public consultation process over the reorganisation of hospital services affecting people in the Leatherhead area has been labelled a sham by the MP for Mole Valley, Sir Paul Beresford.

Sir Paul is furious that documents and a questionnaire have not been properly circulated and says that many of his constituents have been left in the dark.

He has called on health chiefs to extend the consultation period – due to expire at the end of the month – to allow a proper canvass.

Central to the reorganisation is the future of services at Epsom Hospital, which traditionally has been the preferred choice of people living in the Leatherhead area.

The problem, said Sir Paul, is that documentation has been distributed through an NHS publication, which does circulate in North Leatherhead, but not in the rest of Leatherhead or in Bookham, Fetcham or Dorking.

“No attempt for a complete delivery has been made by the NHS,” he added. Sir Paul was at a packed meeting called by Bookham Residents’ Association on Friday night to discuss the situation.

“The only fair option is to delay the closing date of the consultation and ensure all the Surrey disenfranchised residents receive the document either through the Royal Mail or a door to door delivery service,” he said.

East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey primary care trust (PCT) issued a statement this week saying 233,000 documents had been delivered to local homes.